I know there's some folks on tww that like to come to the Outer Banks and drive on the beach. You should be aware of what is going on.

I'm not trying to take a position in this thread, I just wanted to put some information out to those interested:


Article from the Virginia Pilot:

http://hamptonroads.com/2008/03/not-sitting-idle-nc-beach-drivers-keep-fight

Two opposing viewpoints that I was able to find:

www.savehatteras.com

http://www.defenders.org/newsroom/press_releases_folder/2008/02_20_2008_federal_judge_asked_to_restrict_driving_on_cape_hatteras_national_seashore.php

Basically, they're going to ban ORV use on the beaches. Corolla and Carova won't be affected, but all of Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills, Nags Head, Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands will be. This includes Oregon Inlet by the bridge.

Your thoughts/opinnions would be welcome. Thanks.

3/20/2008 5:58:39 PM

but i'm sure the beach patrol (if there is one) will use them all day and night.

3/20/2008 6:54:57 PM

No Doubt...I dont think Hatteras or Ocracoke have ocean rescue though, just the northern beaches...I think thats all the Park Service and the Coast Guard south of mp 20
or so...where ever the south Nags Head line is...

word around here is that the first offense fines will be $400-$500

3/20/2008 7:00:06 PM

I think there was a thread in the garage about this a while back

3/20/2008 8:27:21 PM

good

3/20/2008 8:29:22 PM

Hmm... I imagine that would wipe out a fairly nice draw for the area. Just to drive down to the beach in your truck and go fishing for a day. Now they have to haul that shit down to the beach from a public access point...

Yeah I can see this both helping the birds and turning people off to the area. I hope they weighed the cost/benefits of this really well before heading down this path. I mean, I wonder if the vehicles are disrupting the nesting habits of most of these birds? Maybe they're only disturbing about 5-20%? Well, if it was that, then there's the question of how much is too much.

Yeah, being that I never drive on the beach, I'm going to say that I'll let all the enthusiasts battle it out.

3/20/2008 9:12:30 PM

i wish this thread was "Ohians banned from driving to the OBX"

3/20/2008 10:16:54 PM

^^ It probably will. I like the idea behind protecting the wildlife, and I think some restrictions should be in place regarding the number of vehichles allowed and/or where they can go while they're here.

But at the same time, there is something to be said for the folks that live here, especially the ones on Hatteras and Ocracoke. Closing those beaches to ORV traffic completely will but a serious hurt on their local economy...Tourism and fishing are pretty much all they have down there to bring in $.


^ or Pennsylvania people. LAPD!

3/21/2008 7:00:50 AM

This is ghey. Fuck the birds. Oregon Inlet is a great place to go drive on the sand and if they do close that off, its going to hit that area pretty hard financially.

So much of the beach is already protected, do they have to fucking take Oregon Inlet too??

3/21/2008 7:17:30 AM

I wonder if it would be cheaper (as in you'd lose less tourism money overall) to hire some more wildlife officers to go out there and just rope off areas where these nests are located so that both people and vehicles don't disturb their nests.

I suppose I'm failing to understand why we can't have vehicles, but people can still stomp up and down all along this beach where the birds' nests are. If it's just a "you drove over a nest you didn't see" sort of thing, why not just put a big roped off area around the next that says something like "do not enter, wildlife protection zone". Unless somebody is completely wasted, they wouldn't drive through it.

3/21/2008 12:46:35 PM

Quote :

"good"

amen...learn to walk, you fatties

3/21/2008 12:52:12 PM

Quote :

"Unless somebody is completely wasted, they wouldn't drive through it."

I believe that was how this ban started

Just to play devil's advocate...how are you gonna know where all the nests are in the first place?

3/21/2008 9:42:24 PM

the only good i can see coming out of this (other than maybe saving some birds) is how pristine the beach will actually be. If you are hardcore enough to pack in your water and other supplies there will be far fewer people out there than there used to be.

that being said my dad used to love driving out their to fish, it will be missed

3/21/2008 10:30:29 PM

in case anyone missed it, this is just a follow up to an old story. a judge actually issued a ban on driving on the obx months ago. local officials basically told him to go screw himself, and refused to enforce the ruling citing that he didn't have the authority to do such a thing. an interim plan was put into place, and now the "real" decision is coming.

this is just another example of our public lands being taken from us. besides the recreational value, being able to drive on the obx is critical to many people making a living. it's not called the surf fishing capital of the world because people just like to test their 4wd. a vehicle is necessary to haul equipment/tackle, pull in lines and nets, etc.

if anything, access should be limited to local or state residents. that doesn't make a whole lot of sense either though since it's a NATIONAL seashore.

3/21/2008 10:50:40 PM

Quote :

"a judge actually issued a ban on driving on the obx months ago. local officials basically told him to go screw himself..."

Yup...I saw 3 trucks at oregon inlet today on my way to rodanthe

3/21/2008 10:53:45 PM

also a general fyi for this thread and something i don't see mentioned in the above articles: there is already a large wildlife refuge (pea island, part of the alligator river efforts) on hatteras island that is restricted, and the main focus there is shorebirds. nearly 6000 acres if i remember correctly.

[Edited on March 21, 2008 at 11:02 PM. Reason : .]

3/21/2008 11:00:45 PM

i think the last time i heard someone say "ORV" was Chunk from the Goonies. lol

3/23/2008 4:17:26 PM

update-

Federal judge approves beach-driving agreement
http://www.wral.com/news/state/story/2816510/

4/30/2008 5:51:02 PM

about fucking time

4/30/2008 6:27:03 PM

Quote :

"Just to play devil's advocate...how are you gonna know where all the nests are in the first place?"

Well, there are people that monitor and patrol those areas, and they aren't stupid. I went to this turtle hospital place in middle school that was on the NC coast somewhere on the outer banks. They gave the impression that there were wildlife officers that patrolled the beaches regularly, and these guys were smart enough to pick up on where the turtles went to lay their eggs. I imagine if these guys patrol enough to keep an eye on that, they could keep an eye on other wildlife concerns as well. If it's near the right of way where it would be in danger of being stepped on or crushed, there's a good chance somebody with the right training and a good set of eyes would be able to notice the nest.

But yeah, I guess that's settled now. :/

4/30/2008 7:26:37 PM

Quote :

"i think the last time i heard someone say "ORV" was Chunk from the Goonies. lol"

bullet holes!

4/30/2008 7:46:12 PM

that is quite exciting... i showed up for the first hearing like a month ago, and the judge was a complete asshole. like, horrible. i'm almost surprised he didn't ban beach driving altogether... but i'm super glad he didn't, or this summer would succcckkk

4/30/2008 7:52:59 PM

Last summer my dad attached cotton balls to the grill of his Hummer to look like baby piping plovers


[Edited on April 30, 2008 at 8:27 PM. Reason : ]

4/30/2008 8:25:29 PM

Are vehicles allowed on any beaches in Carteret County still? I remember when I used to live there they were allowed, and I think my brother was going to take his jeep down there this summer so he could drive on the beach. But I didn't even think about this until now...anyone know?



[Edited on April 30, 2008 at 9:08 PM. Reason : ]

4/30/2008 9:07:31 PM

Quote :

"good"

4/30/2008 9:09:17 PM